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Rob Ford to take a ‘break’ after new revelations

Rob Ford announced Wednesday he was taking a leave of absence from his duties as mayor and from his campaign for re-election after he was caught on video for a second time in just over a year smoking what appears to be crack cocaine.

Mayor Rob Ford pantomimes driving drunk in the direction of Councillor Paul Ainslie back in November. Since March, he has engaged in a pattern of impaired behaviour on numerous occasions, culminating with this weekend's new crack video and an audio recording of a drunken, profanity-laden rant in an Etobicoke bar. (David Cooper / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

For a second time in just over a year, Mayor Rob Ford has been caught on video smoking what appears to be crack cocaine.

Video stills posted online by the Globe and Mail show Ford holding what appears to be a small metal crack pipe in his right hand, in one frame looking through narrowed eyes in the direction of the camera or phone.

Ford announced Wednesday he was taking a leave of absence from his duties as mayor and from his campaign for re-election, as those closest to him acknowledged his “substance abuse problems” and opponents called on him to resign — and to apologize.

In a second revelation, the Toronto Sun posted audio of the mayor, apparently intoxicated, and captured in an Etobicoke bar. Ford can be heard swearing and lewdly commenting about several municipal and provincial politicians.

“I have a problem with alcohol, and the choices I have made while under the influence. I have struggled with this for some time,” Ford said in a statement emailed just before 11 p.m. Wednesday. “Today, after taking some time to think about my own well-being, how to best serve the people of Toronto and what is in the best interests of my family, I have decided to take a leave from campaigning and from my duties as Mayor to seek immediate help.”

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Ford went on to say he has tried to deal with the issues himself, but acknowledged needing professional help. He made no mention of drug use.

According to the Globe and Mail, the video was shot in the basement of Ford’s sister, Kathy Ford — who has herself struggled with drug addiction. Ford friend, former driver and alleged drug dealer Alexander “Sandro” Lisi is present at one point, according to the paper. The video was reportedly offered for sale, but it is not yet clear if anyone paid the asking price — what the Globe said was “at least six figures.”

In the audio recording, Ford can clearly be heard talking about opposing mayoral candidate and once political ally Karen Stintz.

“I’d like to f---ing jam her,” Ford can be heard saying about Stintz at one point in the audio posted by the Sun. Then: “I can’t talk like this . . . I’m so sorry, I forgot there’s a woman in the house.”

According to the Sun, the audio was recorded on a boozy night this Monday at Sullie Gorman’s — a strip mall bar on Royal York Rd. just three kilometres from the mayor’s Edenbridge Dr. bungalow and a frequent hangout for both Ford and Lisi.

Ford can also be heard talking about mayoral candidate Olivia Chow, Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne and provincial Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak — whom he criticizes for supporting the raising of the Pride flag at Queen’s Park during the Olympics, in solidarity with the Russian gay community.

“I said no . . . bulls---. Then they said, they went to Queen’s Park, they said no way, Tim Hudak comes out and says yeah, I agree with all the gays …. That’s it. I lost my conservative value.”

Ford continued: “No, they went, the gay organization went to Queen’s Park … At Queen’s Park you have to have every member to vote for. No, no, no, and Tim says, you know what, that’s right …. Right there, he lost my vote.”

And at another point: “I can’t vote Liberal because I don’t like what Wynne is doing, not because she’s gay or not, I just don’t like corruption.”

The two recordings are at least the sixth and seventh recordings of Ford behaving erratically or appearing intoxicated while serving as mayor.

The new apparent crack video emerges just under a year after the Star and the U.S. website Gawker revealed the first video in which Ford appears to smoke crack.

Toronto police revealed they had recovered that video, believed to have been filmed at a known crack house at 15 Windsor Rd., as part of a large investigation of gang activities called Project Traveller. A side investigation, dubbed Project Brazen 2, probed the mayor’s activities and associates.

Ford initially denied the existence of that video, and denied that he smokes crack. Even after he admitted to crack use, in November, he said he had only “tried” it — and he strenuously and repeatedly denied that he is an addict or has a substance abuse problem.

He failed, however, to live up to his evolving promises of sobriety. Saying he had experienced a “come-to-Jesus” moment, he pledged to quit even alcohol. But he was filmed in January cursing the police chief in Jamaican patois, swearing in public outside city hall on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, and, apparently during the summer, ranting about violent murder; he later claimed, in a legal filing, that the murder rant was his poor imitation of a pro wrestler’s performance.

Ford refused to answer directly when asked by the NBC Today Show’s Matt Lauer in February whether he has used crack or other illegal drugs since they had last spoken, in November. He stormed out of a city hall news conference when he was asked again.

The new video will test the loyalty of his unusually devoted base, which is essential to a small-tent campaign in which he has made little effort to win over new supporters.

Ford’s approval rating has remained around 40 per cent, and polls suggest he has retained the voting support of about the quarter of the population. That is enough to make him competitive in a race in which the vote is split three ways. But because much of the population inaccessible to him — half to 60 per cent have told pollsters they would never consider voting for him — even a small decline in base support could torpedo his chances.

Ford had adjusted his rhetoric as he attempted to manage expectations about his behaviour. His lofty initial aspirations gave way to a new refrain: “I’m not perfect; I wasn’t elected to be perfect.” He tried to focus exclusively on his claimed fiscal success, saying his behaviour was “personal” and irrelevant. And his rivals, loath to be seen as overly negative, declined to harp on his scandals.

But the latest recordings will bring his behaviour to the fore. They could prove a boon to John Tory, who has positioned himself to appeal to voters who support Ford’s fiscal conservativism but who have tired of the drama that surrounds him. David Soknacki, who called for Ford to resign, has argued that he is the low-key conservative the city needs. Olivia Chow, who did not comment Wednesday night, has argued that she will bring an end to the Ford “circus.”

“Nobody’s going to come at me,” Ford says in the audio. “I’ve got everything under control.”

Ford’s long-time criminal lawyer, Dennis Morris, told the Star that Ford is not bowing out of the race.

“He’s doing what I think most of the population thought would be appropriate a number of months ago. At that time he didn’t think he should, and now I think he realizes, so that’s a good step,” Morris said late Wednesday night.

Morris did not know how long an absence Ford has planned or what kind of treatment he will get. It’s not clear when Ford’s leave will begin, as mayoral candidates have gotten off to a quick start in the bid for the top seat.

“I don’t think he’s going to be flying out at midnight somewhere,” Morris said. “I think it’s fresh, and there’s various things that maybe people will recommend, and we’ll figure it out.”

Morris said Ford did not reference the recordings in their conversation, but said that events over the past few days had prompted the break.

“I think the public realizes that he may face certain substance-abuse problems and was not admitting to them. Finally admitting to a problem is the first step to rehabilitation.”

He went on to say: “If (the recording) is accurate, then that’s reason enough to take a leave . . . He just thinks it’s time. Certain things allegedly have happened over the last few days, and I think he realizes that it’s time to address the difficulties.”

Stintz responded to the comments made about her both in a public campaign statement and in an interview with the Star.

“The comments released tonight by Mayor Rob Ford are deeply offensive to everyone living in Toronto. That a sitting mayor would make such shocking and bigoted remarks is disgusting,” the statement said. “This is the not the first time that Rob Ford has made misogynistic comments. Unfortunately, there are many that keep giving Rob Ford a pass.”

Stintz told the Star it was time that Ford gets the help that he needs for himself and his family.

“I think it’s overdue. I hope that for his own health and the sake of his family that he gets the help that he needs.”

She said she has not seen the new alleged crack video recording and could not comment.

“I can’t believe that that video prompted this action. I’m not going to speculate on what brought the mayor to the realization that he needed some help.”

In her emailed statement, Stintz asked for a “full apology.”

Other frontrunners in the race for mayor had mixed approaches to the new scandal late Wednesday night.

Chow’s camp said she would not be commenting Wednesday night but would make a statement on Thursday.

“On a personal level, I am relieved Mayor Ford is getting help. My thoughts are with the Ford family,” John Tory said in an emailed statement. “Like Torontonians across the city, I am deeply disappointed by these revelations of Mayor Ford’s behaviour. For the good of the city, I call on Mayor Ford to resign.”

Candidate David Soknacki also released a statement condemning Ford and calling on him to resign.

“Rob Ford is not just a bad mayor. He is also a disgrace. Toronto can’t wait until Oct. 27,” the statement read.

Councillors weighed in on the scandal online.

“Time is up for both Fords,” Etobicoke Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby tweeted, referring also to the mayor’s brother and campaign manager, Doug Ford.

“Anything less than a resignation at this point is too little, too late,” Councillor Jaye Robinson tweeted.

Wynne and Hudak could not be immediately reached for comment.

Provincial NDP leader Andrea Horwath said she welcomed the decision for Ford to take a leave in an emailed statement.

“Taking a break to deal with his health issues takes courage,” she said. “I wish him and his family well.”

With files from Laura Kane

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